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Finding faith in a big tent Photos by Bob Pennell Eric Shull, 18, is moved by the songs being sung during Wednesday evening's worship service in a tent next to North Medford High School. This is the second year for the tent services, organized by local youth pastors to reach out to teenagers. Series of services brings old-time religion to new generation By JULIE SWENSEN As Christian rock music thumps in the background, teenagers file into the 3,200-square-foot red and white tent. They fill the chairs, stand in the back, and sit on couches or on brown carpet remnants on the lawn. There are more than 200 of them milling about in the tent between North Medford High School and Faith Bible Center. Lyrics are passed out, and the chattering in the circus-like tent gives way to dramatic song. "You are my strength when I am weak, you are the treasure that I seek, you are my all in all..." two girls sing on the stage, accompanied by two boys on guitar. Young people file into a large tent near North Medford High School for evening service. The chorus grows larger and louder with each ballad. One by one, teenagers rise from their chairs to stand, close their eyes and raise their hands to the Lord. As they sing, Faith Bible Center youth pastor Bill Kezer stands in the back, saying there is a real need for "The Big Tent." It's easy in this world to get your priorities skewed when fathers spend five minutes a day with their children, he says. As he talks, a teenage boy gives him a hug. "We just saw a need, and we're trying to meet it," he says. Kezer, youth pastors from local churches and others started The Big Tent to help teens encourage their peers to live the Christian life. Running through Saturday, The Big Tent's service from 7 to 9 each night draws 100 to 250 kids. The tent also beckons teenagers for burgers and hot dogs at lunch, drawing 100-plus students every day. This is the second year for The Big Tent, an event just for junior high and high school students. The teenagers pray, listen to Christian bands, and hear other teens talk of how Jesus has turned their lives around. Adults don't go up on stage. They stay on the sidelines, and the kids run it all -- leading the services, serving as ushers and greeters, playing in the bands. "Nobody can reach a student like another student can," Kezer said. He doesn't call it a revival. To him, it's trying to spark the interest of young people. "We're looking at the first post-Christian generation to hit America," Kezer said. Our nation was founded on the principles of the Bible, he said, and "we're finding that we have a generation now that is biblically illiterate." Attendance has grown since last year's Big Tent, which was open for about a week. This year, it stretches nearly two. Inside the tent, teens hear testimonials from their peers, some of whom have said they were thinking of killing themselves until someone intervened and told them about the Lord. Kezer said he's shocked at the number of kids who say they've contemplated or attempted suicide. A lot of them he knows. He said this generation faces more stress than any other generation he's seen. At The Big Tent on this night, a girl sits at a microphone, tears rolling down her face as she recalls how God pulled her out of witchcraft although she had tried to push Him away. "God loves each and every one of you so much," she tells the rapt crowd before stepping off the stage to applause and hugs. Before breaking up for the night, the teens have 15 minutes of silent prayer, some keeping their arms around each other and burying their heads in their hands. Kezer knows of several teenagers this week who have committed to Christ for the first time. Teens who flocked to The Big Tent described it as an open, comfortable atmosphere where they can relate to one another and more easily share how they feel. "It's great to see all the kids who love God," said Karl Wulff, a 16-year-old home-school student from Medford. "God's working through everyone here. It's just awesome," said Phillip Sweet, a 15-year-old student at Eagle Point High School. Sweet said sometimes people his age don't want to listen to adults, and it's easier to hear about God from kids. Many teenagers echoed Sweet's words, saying that hearing from peers about Jesus is more effective. "I think if a teenager shows them it's cool and a good way of life, it seems more true. It seems more real," said Elisa Kezer, a 17-year-old South Medford High student and Bill Kezer's daughter, who sings on stage. Fifteen-year-old Chris Burns, a North Medford student, regularly comes to The Big Tent. Since then, he's been looking at things from a different perspective: God has shown him people in his heart. "It's just really been a blessing," he said. Fellow North Medford student Aaron Hooker, 14, was attending The Big Tent for the first time. He accepted the Lord that night. "It was a very enlightening experience. It could change anybody to go here," Hooker said. "I always wondered what this tent was about," he said. "Now I do know." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA